[ 5132] Vitellius - Roman Emperor: 69 A.D.

[ 5132] Vitellius - Roman Emperor: 69 A.D. - Silver Denarius (20mm, 3.09 gm.) Rome, July - December 69 A.D. Very Rare with a portrait of Otho. Reference: RIC I 70; RSC 115; BMC 3. A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP, bare head of Otho! right. XV VIR SACR FAC, tripod-lebes surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven standing right. Numismatic Note* Coin was struck immediately after Otho was killed and Vitellius became an emperor. Mint did not have a bust of Vitellius yet. Therefore, they used bust of Otho ,however, the inscription was related to Vitellius. Provided with certificate of authenticity. CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC by Sergey Nechayev, PhD - Numismatic Expert Otho (Latin: Marcus Salvius Otho Caesar Augustus; 28 April 32 – 16 April 69), was Roman Emperor for three months, from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors. Otho belonged to an ancient and noble Etruscan family, descended from the princes of Etruria and settled at Ferentinum (modern Ferento, near Viterbo) in Etruria. His paternal grandfather, Marcus Salvius Otho, whose father was a Roman knight but whose mother was of lowly origin and perhaps not even free-born, was raised in Livia's household and rose to senatorial rank through her influence, although he did not advance beyond the rank of praetor. His father was Lucius Otho. Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius (24 September or 7 September and according to Suetonius, 12 September or 15 September 15 – 22 December 69), was the eighth Roman Emperor, who reigned from 16 April 69 to 22 December of the same year. Vitellius acceded to this position following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Vitellius was the first to add the honorific cognomen Germanicus to his name instead of Caesar upon his accession; the latter name had fallen into disrepute in many quarters because of the actions of Nero. His claim to the throne was soon challenged by legions stationed in the Eastern provinces, who proclaimed their commander Vespasian emperor in his place. War ensued, leading to a crushing defeat for Vitellius at the Second Battle of Bedriacum. When he realised his support was wavering, Vitellius prepared to abdicate in favour of Vespasian, but was executed in Rome by Flavian forces on December 22 of 69. // Family He was the son of Lucius Vitellius Veteris and his wife Sextilia, and had one brother, Claudius Vitellius the Younger. Suetonius recorded two different accounts of the origins of the Vitellius (gens), one making them descendants of past rulers of Latium, the other describing them as of lowly origins; Suetonius makes the sensible remark that both accounts might have been made by either flatterers or enemies of Vitellius -- except that both were in circulation before Vitellius became emperor. Suetonius also recorded that when Vitellius was born his horoscope so horrified his parents that his father tried to prevent Aulus from becoming a consul. He married firstly before the year 40 Petronia, daughter of Publius or Gaius Petronius Pontius Nigrinus, by whom he had a son Aulus Vitellius Petronianus, the universal heir of his mother and grandfather. He married secondly circa 50 Galeria Fundana (ca 40 - aft. 69), perhaps the granddaughter of Gaius Galerius (ca 15 BC - aft. 23), Praefectus Aeg. in 23. They had two children, a son called Germanicus and an unnamed daughter (b. ca 55). Settipani and Birley have suggested that this daughter married Decimus Rupilius Libo Frugi, father Rupilia Faustina. [1] Public service Political and military career He was Consul in 48, and assumed Proconsul of Africa in either 60 or 61, in which capacity he is said to have acquitted himself with credit. At the end of 68 Galba, to the general astonishment, selected him to command the army of Germania Inferior, and here Vitellius made himself popular with his subalter ...

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